My twenty-fifth birthday was on a Thursday. The trust would release the funds at noon.
I woke up early and went for a walk on the beach. The ocean was gray and the wind was cold. I had been in Pelican Bluff for two months. I had a room in the house. I had a relationship with my father that was not warm but was real. I had a relationship with Delia that was complicated but was no longer a lie.
I had also made a decision.
At breakfast, Graham gave me an envelope.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Open it."
Inside was a card and a check. The card said, "Happy birthday from your father." The check was for one hundred thousand dollars.
"The trust releases today," Graham said. "This is separate. It's from me."
I looked at the check. Then I looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to know that
